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Where the Lines Overlap

New York, Utah, British Columbia, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, and Russia.

14+ weeks, 10 races, 7 countries, 2 team events and 2 medals : my Rookie World Cup season in the bank.

It has been tough to grab a firm hold on the rational perspective required to move towards this Olympic goal with my heart and mind secured in the ideal space.
Then again, if this was easy – everyone would do it. 






It was bound to happen – a race that seemed to bare no resemblance to the way I had trained. 




Two weeks filled with review, track walks, testing, more track walks, written and re-written notes, video analysis and maybe even a hint of luck … As always, building my race drive.  This however, doesn’t dismiss the fact that I was most definitely still struggling with the nuances of the Sochi track – finicky sections that will undoubtedly be the keys to the best top speeds. With all that (and more) in mind, come race day, Phrixus and I were all polished and ready to challenge the Sanki Sliding Centre. 






I was supposed to execute steers, to react accordingly and find the fastest way down; I didn’t. 





It’s not to say that I didn’t try, but right from the exit of corner 2 I began to lose control … It meant that instead of working with Phrixus – we began to disagree. 

My drive line would cause him to kick-out one way and I’d have to react in an opposing way as an attempt to correct our path. Suddenly, I wasn’t relaxed. Tense and hyper-aware that I was killing my time – I tried to salvage the rest of the run; I didn’t. 

I would wind up falling to 17th after heat 1. 
It was the closest I’ve been to not getting a second run.


Here is heat 2 – you can find me at the 11:03 mark.

Despite a slightly better second run which moved me up to 16th –  nothing felt as I’d imagined it would. I was overcome with disappointment and the “excitement” of my first World Cup season coming to a conclusion was briefly overshadowed.
More of the cute faces I seem to make in the leader’s box …

For about a day it tore me apart to not be able to explain to myself exactly “what happened”.  But once I took a moment to sit down and watch the replay, I was able to see all the small things during that race that I didn’t do … and ultimately – had to forgive myself for.

After the medals were presented and we were packing up our sleds, I was met with many comments that all eluded to the same thing, “Best that it happened now.” And despite my dislike for cliches I have to agree … because it was something that needed to happen.

“Dress rehearsals are supposed to be bad, the real performance is when you shine”

In the last few months – everything has changed – and I’m better because of it all. 

“The most glorious moments in your life are not the so-called days of success, but rather those days when out of dejection and despair you feel rise in you a challenge to life, and the promise of future accomplishments.” -Gustave Flaubert

The entire Sochi experience was quite surreal. During the World Cup Tour I had been met with weeks and weeks of newness, but nothing like the change of pace that was presented in Russia. 

Undoubtedly, the sights and sounds upon our next visit will once again change – and perhaps the track will require some planing adjustments too – but at the very least, we have a starting point.




I’ve been searching through online articles and social media for reactions to the whole “one year out” experience from other athletes and sports affiliates. This ESPN article (and video) created during the Sochi Freeski and Snowboard test events provides an interesting perspective and reminds us that no matter what – we must perform!

Feel safe yet?





“You think, ‘Oh the Olympics! We’re going to be in the best places, the best resorts, the best snow conditions, best whatever. And then you just come here and it’s raining. And you say, ‘how does that happen? It’s the Olympic Games!’ But that’s life,” [….] In one way or the other they’re going to have to deal with it and perform the best they can on it. That’s what competitions are,” – read the full article written by Melissa Larsen here — Welcome to Sochi



So, after wrapping up the last stop on our 2012/13 World Cup tour – the final standings have been tallied.
My girls and I finished ranked in the TOP 10 across the board!


World Cup Overall:
5th (Sarah Reid), 6th (Mellisa Hollingsworth), 8th (Cassie Hawrysh)


FIBT Women’s Skeleton Ranking:
5th (Sarah Reid), 8th (Mellisa Hollingsworth), 10th (Cassie Hawrysh)


It was a season to remember; a season to review and a season that will forever shape my World Cup career.


From Sochi, we flew direct to Munich, Germany – and that final evening in Europe allowed me to take in some of the incredible Bavarian sights, be treated to a fantastic home-cooked dinner (special thanks to my generous hosts) and bid a proper farewell to it all …  for now.


Currently, you can find me back in Calgary: awaiting the return of Phrixus and his tightly packed friends (who are still en route via Cargo ship), defeating jet lag, decompressing and preparing to create my plan of attack for the next chapters of this amazing dream I get to call my life.

Remember, the ones who push the limits discover that the limits sometimes push back ….
But that’s what I count on – because in my world – there is no key.
My world requires that I push to start.